The number of foreign students applying to graduate schools in California is increasing sharply, thanks to the dollar's worldwide decline in value that has made studying here a bargain, campus admissions officers say.

Some schools such as San Francisco State University and UCLA are seeing double-digit increases in applications from foreign students in some graduate programs. Admissions officers report an increase in applications from countries in Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

"The value of the dollar is shrinking, so we are much more of a bargain than we were in the past," said Mae Jennifer Shores, a UCLA assistant dean who oversees admissions to its business school. "If you compare the euro or the yuan to the dollar, it is much easier for people to come here to get a business education at a great discount."

UCLA has seen a dramatic increase in applications from foreign students in the past year, including a 49 percent jump in applications from Western Europe, a 46 percent increase from South Asia, a 41 percent increase from Latin America and a 71 percent increase from Africa. Its graduate business school enrollment has grown from 62 foreign students in 2005 to 98 in 2007, the most recent year for which numbers were available.

At the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, applications from foreign students rose 14.8 percent in the past year - from 1,404 students in 2007 to 1,613 in 2008. Enrollments have also grown steadily, rising 21 percent from 80 foreign students in 2004 to 97 in 2008 - 40 percent of the 241 new students Haas enrolled.

Peter Johnson, director of admissions for the full-time master of business administration program at Haas, said interest has always been strong from abroad but that the declining dollar could be one of the reasons for the growth.

"More people can conceivably consider doing an MBA in the U.S. because of that," he said. "It has helped students to have a more realistic opportunity to study in the U.S."

Systemwide, six UC campuses offer MBA programs. Collectively, they have seen enrollment of foreign students grow by 37.4 percent from 206 in 2005 to 283 in 2007, the latest figures available.

Other programs have seen growth as well. Systemwide, UC enrollment of foreign students in the mechanical engineering and computer science graduate programs at eight campuses rose 94 percent from 2005 to 2007, from 178 to 346.

For those students, even though there's a hefty tuition surcharge, UC schools are attractive because of the growth in their currencies against the dollar.

For example, today's $39,050 tuition for nonresident students at UCLA's Anderson School of Management would cost a European student approximately 26,573 euros. When the dollar was stronger, five years ago, that European student would have had to pay 34,363 euros. And in 1999, when the euro was introduced, that student would have had to pay 37,671 euros.

"The exchange value is so good, it is a great time for them," said Nancy Hayes, dean of the College of Business at San Francisco State University, which saw its applications from foreign students rise nearly 30 percent in the past year. The students are coming from China, India, Taiwan, Germany, France, and as far as Kenya and Russia.

Peter von Loesecke, CEO of the MBA Tour, which sets up events to allow potential students to learn more about the schools, said his company has seen an explosion in interest from foreign students in schools across the United States. Attendance increased by 62 percent in Shanghai, about 40 percent in Beijing, and nearly 30 percent in India, he said.

"Both India and China are growing tremendously and developing wealth, which creates more disposable income for education," von Loesecke said. "Combine that with an appreciated currency, and you kind of have a double whammy there."

Enrollment goes up ...

37.4%

Growth of enrollment of foreign students in UC's MBA programs systemwide from 2005 to 2007.

... as cost goes down

$39,050

Tuition in U.S. dollars for nonresident students at UCLA's Anderson School of Management.

26,573

Current UCLA Anderson School of Management tuition converted to euros. In 1999, when the euro was introduced, a European student would have had to pay 37,671 euros.